Illuminated switch



Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE ILLUMINATED SWITCH Morris L. Bigman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April 25, 1936, Serial No. 76,343

3 Claims.

This invention relates to switch devices of various kinds and classes to control the circuit to the bulbs of electric lighting fixtures, lamps and .the like; and the object of the invention is to provide a switch of the class described with means for illuminating the switch to render the same visible in a dark room or compartment, and especially when the switch is in an ofl, or open circuit position, and in order that the 10 switch may be readily located to facilitate operation thereof to turn on the light or lights controlled thereby; a further object being to provide a switch, the manually operated element of which is provided with a neon glow lamp, visible 15 externally of said element, especially when the switch is in open circuit position; a still further object being to provide an illuminating means for switches of the class described involving a neon bulb and suitable resistors in each 20 side of the circuit to the neon bulb, and tothe arrangement of the neon bulb circuit in the electric supply circuit to the switch so as to utilize a very nominal amount 01' energy in the operation of said neon glow lamp;- and with these 5 and other objects in view, the invention consists in a switch device of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, eflicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

3 The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, 01' which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate.

parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, 35 and in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through one form of switch showing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front and sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial section on'the line H of Fig. 2: and,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the switch element, detached. 45 My invention is applicable to various kinds and classes of switch devices controlling electric lighting and other circuits. Toillustrate one.

method of carrying my invention into eflect, I

have shown in the accompanying drawing one 50 type or form of wall switch modified to incorporate my improvement in connection therewith. 1 In this illustration, S'represents the usual body of insulating material having the two binding posts or screws Ii and I with 'which the circuit wires 8 and 8a are connected. The wires 8 and ment I4 of the body on the pivot I5. The arm I3 is nection, it will be understood that other types of electrical connections may bemade. 5 Extending through the body 5 are screws l0 and II which contact with the posts 6 and I.

Extending from the inner ends of the screws are spring contacts I2, the circuit between which is completed by the contact arm I3 of a switch ele- 10 rotatably mountedin the forward end provided with the usual spring. mounting l6 for snapping the arm I3 into and'out of engagement with the contacts I2, the arm operating in a hollow or recessed portion ll of the body 5 as in other devices of this kind. Theswitch element II, in the construction shown, is composed of two parts of insulating material, the adjacent surfaces of the parts abutting, as indicated at I8. These parts are so formed as to provide an outwardly projecting finger piece l9, within which is formed a chamber 20 opening through the sidezsuri'aces oi the finger piece I 9 as indicated at I. mounting plate 22 for securing the same to a wall or other support or in conjunction with an outlet box. I

Mounted in connection with the body 5 is a cover or housing 23 also preferably composed of insulating material. This housing is held in place by screws 24 which extend into a supporting plate 24a arranged-upon .the body 5, said body 5 being preferably composed oi porcelain or other insulating material. The front of the 85 housing 23 is provided with an opening 25 in which the switch element I4, and especially the finger piece l9 thereof is free to operate in moving the switch element into "oil" and on" positions in opening and closing the electric circuit controlled thereby. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the switch is shown in its 01! position with the circuit broken through the spring contacts l2.

At 26, I have shown a neon glow lamp in the form of an elongated tube which is arranged in the chamber 20 of'the finger piece l9. Extending from this bulb are two circuit wires 21 and 28 which couple with spring contacts 29 and 30 secured .to the inner portion of the switch element I4 and in position to engage contact plates 60,

3i and 32 at one end of resistance elements 33 and 34. The other ends of said elements are coupled with the screws III and II through plates 35 and, 38. It will thus be seen that when the switch element I4 is in the oil or open circuit The switch device includes the usual-25" position, the contacts 29 and 30 place the bulb or glow lamp 26 in circuit with the wires 8,211 through the resistance elements 23, 24 and the various contacts defined so that the lamp or bulb 5 26 will be illuminated when the switch is in the ofl or open circuit position. On the other hand, when the switch II is moved into closed circuit position, the circuit will be completed through the contacts l2, and the spring contacts 29 and 3! will be moved out of engagement with the plates Ii and 32, thus breaking the circuit to the lamp 2'.

By the circuit arrangement disclosed, very little current will be consumed in the operation of the neon glow lamp 26, and by providing a lamp of this type in various kinds and classes of switch devices. and so mounting the lamp as to be exposed through a part of the device to render the'same visible,'a switch may be located so or detected in a dark room or compartment,

. thus facilitating the operation; thereof.

- By mounting the lamp in thefinger piece I! of a switch such as shown in the accompanying drawing, the lamp will be protected against destruction, and at the same time, will present a clearly visible light to register the locationof the switch. Various other types of mountings of the glow lamp as well as modifications in. the structure of the lamp may be made to suit 2 80 switches of different designs, constructions and modes of operation.

Instead of completing the circuit of the glow lamp to the terminals of a switch device through spring contacts, as described, the same result as can be accomplished by freely flexing wires which will be coupled directly with the resistance elements employed. It is preferred, however, that the resistance elements be directly coupled with the terminals to avoid the exposure of any moving 40 circuit wire carrying the current supply to the exposed parts or areas of the complete switch. The resistance devices or plates may be made with terminal ends which will adapt the same to various designs and types of switch devices.

45 Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

, l. A switch device for controlling an electric circuit to open and close said circuit, said device 50 comprising an opaquebody having a transverse pivot axis, said body having an integral part projecting radially therefrom, said part having an opening in one side wall thereof, means arranged within said part and exposed through said side opening for producing a light to identify the locationiof the switch device when arranged in a dark room or compartment, and said means comprising a neon glow lamp with means extending through and arranged upon said body for placing said lamp in the electric circuit con trolled by said switch device in the off or open circuit po sition.

2. A switch device for controlling an electric circuit to open and close said circuit, said device comprising an opaque body having a transverse pivot axis, said body having an integral part projecting radially therefrom, said part having an opening in one side wall thereof, means arranged within said part and exposed through said side opening for producing a light to identify the location of the switch device when arranged in a dark room or compartment, said means comprising a neon glow lamp with means extending through and arranged upon said body for placing said lamp in the electric circuit controlled by said switch device in the off or open circuit position, and said last'named means involving resistance elements on said device and in the circuit of said glow lamp.

3. A switch device for controlling an electric circuit to open and close said circuit, said device comprising an opaque body having a transverse pivot axis, said body having an integral part projectlng radially therefrom, said part having an opening in one side wall thereof, means arranged within said part and exposed through said side opening for producing a light to identify the location of the switch device when arranged in a dark room or wmpartment, said means comprising a neon glow lamp with means extending through and arranged upon said body for placing said lamp in the electric circuit controlled by said switch device in the off or open circuit position, said'last named means involving resistance elements on said device and in the circuit of said glow lamp, said body being divided centrally and longitudinally into two substantially similar parts with chambers therebetween facilitating attachment and detachment of the neon'lamp and circuit wires extending therefrom.

MORRIS L. BIGMAN. 

